We are investing $4.5 million to help Parks Australia prepare for a possible outbreak of H5 avian influenza (H5 bird flu).
Australia and nearby islands remain free of H5 bird flu. But planning and early action are important to prepare our native species.
From Norfolk Island to Kakadu - this funding will support work across Commonwealth national parks and marine parks.
The work will help protect bird species most at risk from H5 bird flu. This includes the iconic magpie geese and the Abbott's booby, which breeds only on Christmas Island.
Projects include:
- On Christmas Island, Parks Australia will map Abbott's booby nests. This will help guide future conservation work, such as feral cat management and yellow crazy ant control.
- In Ashmore Reef Marine Park and Coral Sea Marine Park teams will control invasive plants and animals. This includes the south-east Asian house mouse. The mice compete with seabirds for food and eat their eggs.
- On Phillip Island and in Norfolk Island National Park, work will target common starlings and purple swamphens. These species threaten native seabirds.
- In Kakadu National Park, funding will help control feral pigs. Feral pigs damage habitat by trampling plants and increasing erosion. They also prey on birds and their chicks and eggs.
These efforts will help build stronger populations and healthier habitat. This will support our most at-risk native species to better withstand the impacts of a potential outbreak.
The projects will also deliver long-term conservation benefits for native species.
Of this funding, $2.7 million is supporting remote surveillance using artificial intelligence of remote parks. It is also supporting staff safety and other preparedness work across national parks and marine parks.
The Australia Government has committed more than $113 million to prepare for H5 bird flu. This includes more than $47 million for environmental measures.
